The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-22
PRISON aEYORn In MISSISSIPPI.


PRISON aErORn In MISSISSIPPI.
There can be no doubt that when
the Legislature Of Mississippi meets
again strong pressure will DO brought
to Tear upon II for prison reform. The
sentiment Of the State In this behalf
has been aroused by the reports Of the
grand jury Of Kinds county as to the
condition Of the Jail and the penilen.
tlary. and the treatment Of prisoners
In the latter. II has ALEC been aroused
by the report Of the com mission 10 In.
quire into the condition and treat.
mont q leased convicts, ard more 70.
Gently by the exposition Of the bar
buous treatment OF vicksburg con.
vicis hired to persons residing and
doing business In Kinds county. All
these reports chow that cruel treat
mont and barbarous neglect Of convicts
, has been the rule. Beside this, there
Ia no longer the dread Of the negro
that once encouraged the white people
Of Mississippi TO make laws providing
for at least unusual punishments.
That EFFICIENCY, which grew out Of the
encouragements the negroes received
during the period Of reconstruction
having passed, the judges are more
mercliully Inclined In Difference 10 an
amended public sentiment There are
fewer convictions certified to the peni-
Tertiary. because there 10 less stealing
Of hogs, horses and cattle, and II 10 an
easy matter for . negro to procure
labor. or 'sod 1.-The cannot labor. Toe
kindly feeling that exls.ed between
the races before the war has been In
great part established, and III help.
ing hand 10 generously held out to
negroes who are industrious and are
helping themselves. The proof OF
this amended public sentiment In 70.
gard 10 crime and criminals 10 to be
found In the fact, 90 made clear by q
correspondent Of the 81. Louis Globe.
Democrat, that whereas at one time
there were 1928 prisoners In the Mis-
sissippi ptnitentiary there are now
only 100. Accounting for this drop
TO almost one.hali, M'i. Johnston,
superintendent Of the psnitsntiary,
says II IL owing TO the fact that petit
1uries are only hall a. hard on the
nisgers m they were. A few year,
ago they gave the darkey I've year,
for stealing q COW. Now they give
him two or three. Aud this holds
good through the list Of crimes
Where a negro used to get ten years
he 10 now givon Ave. Where he got
twenty years he now gets ten. That
Ia the whole explanation 10 the ialllus
OIL In the number Of convicls.' Mr..
Jenkins, the secretary, Endorsed MAJ
Johnston c xplanailon. and said there
wasn't any doubt about In beips the
reaion Tor the decicase In the mum.
ber." A reduction thus 90 gratifying
and due % q growing sense Of justice
and iesling II elemency may be still
iurlhs decreased II Maj. Johnston's
suggestions In legislation are enacted
Into law. He 10 going TO urge upon
the Legislature the repeal Of the pig
Law. and the raising Of the lower limit
Of grand larceny from $40 to SIS. II,
al'o. the Lesislature passes Q Law pro.
vidins for reform school for the con-
hnement Of boys under elehtsen years
Of age, II may be still further de.
creased. until Q lover limit In NUN.
bep Of only 400 convicts 10
the reni,entiary is reached. There
wero recently thirty.three boys,
averaging eighteen years II sge,
serving sentences averaging slr years.
There are twelve BOYS under fileen
who are serving terms which will av.
erage Eve years and three months.
Among the lfl.,ermers are two youths
Of sixteen years. A thirteen. year old
higAvaymAn Ia In for Ave years. A
boy a The mature age Of fourteen ID
Gown for ten years on account OF an
! attempt 10 commi, rape. A Ike term
> was given boy Of thirteen for the
same crime. Recently q boy Of six.
teen was turned out At Jackson,
alter serving torn. His ofiense
was selling bad meat In his case
II may easily be assumed that he was
tho victim Of cruel and unusual pun.
ishment, aud, besides, was really sent
! toa school Of crime whence, no doubt,
he iHued q hardened and vlcions
; criminal. Mississippi, TO q degree
greater than any State in the world,
needs good wagon roads. She has the
msterial TO make them, In inerhaust.
ible beds Of gravel, and n she will
raise the lower limit for V,aud larceny
10 $50, and compel the counties 10
! take measures for the punishment Of.
! their criminals, they can be mos,
probably employed In making good
roads, |" the prisoners Of Shelby